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Virendra Sharma MP, yesterday, opened his campaign office, 1 March 2015 at 90 South Road, Southall, UB1 1RD. The guest of honour was Gareth Thomas, Member of Parliament for Harrow West, who hosted 500 people saying yes to Labour in May.

500 local residents, in two hours, visited Virendra Sharma’s newly opened campaign office. The official opening, and ribbon cutting ceremony, was at 3pm and Gareth Thomas MP, officially declared the office open. Hundreds of people packed into the office welcomed by Virendra Sharma, Ealing councillors, and local businesses. A huge card was presented to Virendra Sharma MP by Claude Moraes MEP from everyone present wishing him success, and predicting a Labour victory in May.

Local MP for Ealing Southall, Virendra Sharma said:

“The show of support from constituents and even people from further afield on Sunday was spectacular. The response was even better than expected, and seeing so many people give me their support was a real honour.

With only two months until the General Election people have woken up to the idea that without their support there could be a Conservative government for another five years. The NHS will not survive another five years under the Tories, only Labour’s long term plan to protect services by integrating health and social care will save the NHS.

Having my family here supporting me is a great comfort, especially Ria and Aatish my two grandchildren, and my lovely wife Nirmala. Inviting Gareth Thomas to Ealing again was a pleasure, and we showed him a great Southall welcome.”

Virendra Sharma MP, yesterday, opened his campaign office, 1 March 2015 at 90 South Road, Southall, UB1 1RD. The guest of honour was Gareth Thomas, Member of Parliament for Harrow...

Virendra Sharma MP AND BHF HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING FOR LIFE SAVING RESEARCH

Virendra SharmaMP attended a British Heart Foundation (BHF) event calling on the next government to guarantee the future of the science budget to protect life saving research.

The MP for Ealing Southall joined heart patient Emily Sullivan, 8, for a science lesson to highlight the importance of charities being able to continue funding medical research.

Emily has had three open heart surgeries after being born with three large holes in her heart, a condition that more and more people are surviving because of BHF research.

Virendra Sharmajoins thousands of people across the UK who will be wearing red on February 6 for Wear It. Beat It. to help the BHF continue to fund life saving research.

Medical research charities, like the BHF, rely on government investment to pay for the indirect costs of research, such as lighting, electricity and heating for laboratories.

Without government support, the BHF’s ability to fund world class research to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease (CVD) would be significantly reduced.

Virendra Sharma said: “Charities are an essential part of the UK medical research environment and the science budget is vital to supporting their research.

“By funding the day-to-day running of science facilities, the next government will ensure that researchers can concentrate on finding the next life saving cure.

“If we are to prevent and treat devastating conditions like cardiovascular disease in places like Ealing Southall, we need continued investment in pioneering research and to guarantee the future of the science budget.”

For every £1 charities spend directly on medical research, the Government pays 26p to help fund the indirect costs.

The BHF is calling on the next government to maintain the current ring-fencing of the science budget and to commit to future increases.

Professor Peter Weissberg, Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, said: “If the UK is to maintain its strong position in biomedical research, the next government must guarantee the future of the science budget.

“Every single research grant we fund is underpinned by Government investment in universities.

“This fund is a vital partnership between Government, charity and universities and any cut to it would be extremely damaging to our life saving research and the fight against heart disease.”

A quarter of all deaths in the UK are caused by CVD and there are an estimated seven million people living with the condition.

For over 50 years the BHF has pioneered research that has transformed the lives of millions of people living with CVD.

The BHF is the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research and invests over £100 million every year.

For over 50 years the British Heart Foundation has pioneered research that’s transformed the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions. Our work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are changing the fight against heart disease. But so many people still need our help. From babies born with life-threatening heart problems to the many Mums, Dads and Grandparents who survive a heart attack and endure the daily battles of heart failure. Join our fight for every heartbeat in the UK. Every pound raised, minute of your time and donation to our shops will help make a difference to people’s lives. For more information visit www.bhf.org.uk

Virendra Sharma MP AND BHF HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANCE OF FUNDING FOR LIFE SAVING RESEARCH Virendra Sharma MP attended a British Heart Foundation (BHF) event calling on the next government to guarantee...

Today I signed the Holocaust Educational Trust’s Book of Commitment, in doing so I pledged my commitment to Holocaust Memorial Day and honouring those who were murdered during the Holocaust as well as paying tribute to the extraordinary Holocaust survivors who work tirelessly to educate young people.

Tuesday 27th January will mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau, the site of the largest mass murder in history.

In the weeks leading up to and after Holocaust Memorial Day, thousands of commemorative events will be arranged by schools, faith groups and community organisations across the country, remembering all the victims of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides.

Virendra SharmaMP commented:

“Holocaust Memorial Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau – and is an important opportunity to remember the victims and survivors of the Holocaust and make sure they are not forgotten. I encourage all constituents to mark the day and to join members of my community in the fight against prejudice and intolerance.”

Holocaust Memorial Day was established following an MP’s visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau with the Holocaust Educational Trust. Moved by his visit, Andrew Dismore MP proposed a bill, “to introduce a day to learn and remember the Holocaust” on 30June 1999.

The Holocaust Educational Trust has been closely involved in the establishment and development of Holocaust Memorial Day since its inception in 2000. Holocaust Memorial Day is now coordinated by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust.

The theme for the UK Holocaust Memorial Day 2015 is ‘Keeping the Memory Alive’.

About the Holocaust Educational Trust

Founded by Lord Janner of Braunstone and the late Lord Merlyn Rees, the Holocaust Educational Trust was formed in 1988 as a result of renewed interest and need for knowledge about the Holocaust during the passage of the War Crimes Act. Our aim is to raise awareness and understanding in schools and amongst the wider public of the Holocaust and its relevance today. We believe the Holocaust must have a permanent place in our nation’s collective memory.

One of the Trust’s first achievements was to ensure that the Holocaust was included in the National Curriculum for England in 1991 – for Key Stage 3 students (11-14 year olds). We also successfully campaigned to have the assets of Holocaust victims and survivors released and returned to their rightful owners.

Since 1999 the Trust’s Lessons from Auschwitz Project has given thousands of post-16 students and teachers the opportunity to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau as part of a four-part educational programme. The Project is now in its fifteenth year and has taken over 25,000 students and teachers from across the UK to Auschwitz-Birkenau, as well as many MPs and other guests.

To mark our 25th year, last year we launched our Ambassador Programme, headed up by Lord Browne of Madingley. Ambassadors have been invested with the responsibility for delivering a powerful message about what happened during the Holocaust to their peers and wider communities. In November 2014 we appointed our latest cohort of Regional Ambassadors, we now have 65 Regional Ambassadors across the United Kingdom who have shown outstanding commitment to ensuring that the lessons of the Holocaust are not forgotten – the Regional Ambassadors coordinate and encourage the work of Ambassadors in their area.

We work in schools, colleges and higher education institutions, providing teacher training workshops and lectures, as well as teaching aids and resource materials.